Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton had an up-and-down rookie season, and he came under fire because of it.
Being a first-round pick, the expectation was that Guyton would fill in for Tyron Smith, who moved to the New York Jets, but Guyton had an inconsistent season.
Now, as he enters his second year, Guyton has already made some significant changes, particularly to his diet, as he looks to establish himself as the starter.
And for Tyler Smith, seeing Guyton get proactive this offseason has been good to see.
“It's extremely encouraging, Smith said. “I think the thing about TG is he has special tools that not a lot of guys have. His athleticism, ability to bend, his explosiveness they're all very rare. It's encouraging to see him take the next step in terms of improving his process because that rookie year is always turbulent.
"It's the longest year of their lives, there's a lot of things that went into that beyond just football. I think he's going to have a great year, I think he's really approached this offseason with the right mindset, and we're all behind him, as a room, as a team.”
Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton is expected to make a big jump in his second season.
Dallas Cowboys left tackle Tyler Guyton is expected to make a big jump in his second season.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
There are a couple of players who are under the microscope in 2025, and Guyton is one of them.
With an offensive line that will be the straw that stirs the offense's drink, given Brian Schottenheimer's desire to run the ball, the buck starts and stops with the front five.
Guyton, Smith, Cooper Beebe, Tyler Booker and Terence Steele will likely be the starting five that Schottenheimer deploys in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Dak Prescott needs to be kept upright to take advantage of receivers George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb, and a lot of that falls on Guyton to be the best blindside protector he can be.
And he has started the offseason off on the right foot, with his teammates all pulling for Guyton to make giant strides in his second season.